Block Diagonal Dominance and Design of Decentralized Compensators

An extension of Rosenbrock’s design method for linear multivariable systems is presented, based on the concept of block diagonal dominance for rational transfer function matrices. The technique allows independent design of compensators for low-interacting subsystems. The flexibility of the method with respect to partitioning and measures of gain leads to improved estimates for overall system stability under decentralized compensator designs. Various new directions and extensions suggested by our methods are discussed and examples illustrate the theory.